What Do You Think?

November 14, 2009

Editor's note: The Herald-Mail invites readers to answer poll questions on its Web site, www.herald-mail.com. Readers also may submit comments when voting. A sampling of edited reader comments will run on The Herald-Mail's Opinion page on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

The question posted Wednesday on The Herald-Mail's Web site was: Should U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have been censured by Republican leaders in a South Carolina county for working with Democrats on a climate bill and other legislation?

o "Censure is an extreme measure and is not warranted. The man must do what he thinks is best for his constituents. Going against party positions to do so is sometimes necessary. No party should demand that its members follow in lock step with each and every policy espoused by the party. Even within parties, there has to be some room for disagreement. Behind the scenes, however, I am sure his Republican colleagues will have some choice words for (and about) him."

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o "Politicians should be applauded when they cross party lines. I disagree with Graham on this issue, but he has the right to do whatever he thinks is best and Republicans censuring him are ridiculous. To be fair, (House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi and her liberals were also very heavy-handed in getting House Democrats to fall in line and vote for that health (care) bill. Too many times, politicians just act as a Democrat or Republican instead of doing what's right for the people."

o "No. I might not agree with Graham's views, (but) he has a right to them and to work with the Democrats. This is why nothing gets done by Congress that the American people want. They are ruled by their own parties and so we get runaway spending, a health care bill we cannot afford, our military living on the edge waiting for reinforcements and the economy in the tank while we are all being told everything is getting better. Nonpartisanship exists in words only and what is really good for the country falls by the wayside in the name of politics."

o "Lindsey Graham is a prime example of what is wrong with the Republican Party. He is out of step with the party on most issues, and his cooperation with ultraliberal Sen. John Kerry on the bipartisan energy bill was the breaking point. It's time for all (Republicans In Name Only) to go."

o "Graham should be free to vote and discuss his conscience. Graham and (Maine U.S. Sen. Olympia J.) Snowe are the lone Republican voices on issues, as this is a fully planned Republican strategy to maximize leverage on pending legislation, so don't be fooled."